The reform of the Common European Asylum System - implications for practice, policy & research

Sep 30, 2026

Background and purpose center on identifying and addressing refugees’ special protection needs to support adequate accommodation, healthcare, and asylum processes. The study analyzes how revised EU regulations under the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) translate into requirements for public health services and other stakeholders, and it reviews Germany’s pre-reform identification and response processes. Methods include document analysis of new CEAS directives and three multi-stakeholder workshops. Results highlight a shared EU framework needing national transposition and local operationalization, with inconsistent understanding affecting structured implementation across levels. Recommendations emphasize clarifying roles and mandates to enable a structured, equity-oriented process.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background / Aim

Methods

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Conclusions

vi64 European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 35, Supplement 6, 2025 and research should accompany this process in a critical and constructive manner to ensure that no one is left behind. Abstract citation ID: ckaf180.175 526 The reform of the Common European Asylum System - implications for practice, policy & research Andreas W. Gold1,2, Clara Perplies2, Sandra Ziegler1, Kayvan Bozorgmehr1,2 1Heidelberg University Hospital, Section Health Equity Studies & Migration, Heidelberg, Germany 2Bielefeld University-School of Public Health, Dept. of Population Medicine and Health Services Research (AG2), Bielefeld, Germany OP 27: Refugees and Asylum Seekers 3, B210 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 16:00-17:00 Background / Aim: Identifying and addressing special needs of refugees is essential for adequate accommodation, healthcare and the asylum process. In 2024, EU regulations on identifying and dealing with persons with special protection needs have been revised in the scope of the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) . Our aim was to analyse the reform’s requirements with a focus on implications for public health services and other stakeholders. Additionally, we examined the processes used to identify and address refugees’ protection needs in Germany, a major host country, prior to the CEAS reform. Methods: We conducted a document analysis of new EU directives under the?CEAS reform and three multi-stakeholder workshops involving?60 participants across six German federal states. We employed?network analysis, qualitative synthesis, and triangulated the results. Results: The EU regulations provide an overarching framework, but require transposition into national law in each member state and further operationalisation by local actors. The cooperation of a wide range?of diverse actors - including medical and social care providers, public health services, reception and border authorities - is needed to Identify and address special protection needs adequately. Differences in responsibilities, roles and divergent attitudes towards systematic approaches, information transfer, and upholding data protection standards have resulted in a lack of a common understanding regarding suitable strategies and procedures for a structured process to identify special protection needs. Consequently, implementation of procedures at national and local levels remains highly inconsistent. Conclusions: Following the CEAS reform, EU Member States should clarify the roles and mandates of the actors involved in refugee care, to ensure that special protection needs are identified and addressed in a structured and equity-oriented process. Civil society

FAQs

What is the primary aim of this research?

To analyze revised CEAS requirements with a focus on implications for public health services and other stakeholders, and to examine Germany’s processes for identifying and addressing protection needs prior to the reform.

How was the study conducted?

The study used document analysis of new EU directives under the CEAS reform and three multi-stakeholder workshops with participants across six German federal states, combining network analysis and qualitative synthesis.

What major implementation challenge did the study find?

Even though EU regulations provide an overarching framework, inconsistent transposition and divergent responsibilities and attitudes lead to a lack of common understanding, resulting in highly inconsistent procedures at national and local levels.

Sep 30, 2026

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